Health benefits of ginger and ginger extract is superior to painkillers like Tylenol or Advil, study suggests.
According to a recent study published in the journal of Arthritis, ginger extract is more effective than common drugs including betamethasone (cortisone) and ibuprofen for treating osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Researchers have found that popular painkillers such as ibuprofen, Advil or Motrin have not shown a significant effect on substances known as cytokine that regulate immune system and have anti-inflammatory effect on the body. However, the researchers discovered that both ginger extract and betamethasone reduce cytokine levels equally.
According to researchers, “Ibuprofen showed no effect on cytokine production, while ginger extract was similar to betamethasone. Ginger extract was as effective an anti-inflammatory agent as betamethasone in this in vitro model”.
Although pharmaceutical drugs like betamethasone are pretty popular for relieving pain, they have been linked to many side effects and health problems:
Short term side effects of drugs like betamethasone are weight gain, fluid retention, glucose intolerance, hypokalemia, gastrointestinal upset and ulceration, and depression. Long term effects could be muscle weakness, chest pain, high blood pressure, severe headaches, pancreatitis, heart arrhythmias and insomnia.
According to researchers, ginger is a powerful anti-inflammatory that is safe to use and has a lot less serious side effects than pharmaceutical drugs like betamethasone.
Researchers also discovered that ginger extract is superior to drugs like ibuprofen and Advil that have no effect on cytokine production. Not only Ginger extract helps to reduce cytokine levels, it also helps to lower inflammation and acidity within the joints and muscles researchers say.
Another study by researchers at University of Denmark suggests that ginger is as effective and even superior to anti-pain pharmaceutical drugs:
According to the world-renowned researcher on the therapeutic effects of spices and the leading author of the study, Dr Krishna C. Srivastava, ginger extract is an effective painkiller without the side effects of pharmaceutical drugs.
According to Dr Srivastava, the patients in the study who were given 1gr of powdered ginger or 5gr of fresh ginger for three month had significant reduction in pain, swelling, morning stiffness and inflammation.
Dr Srivastava also discovered that ginger was superior to anti-inflammatory and non-steroidal drugs (NSAIDs) including Advil and Tylenol. According to Dr Srivastava, NSAIDs only block formation of inflammatory compounds, whereas ginger (besides blocking the inflammatory compounds like prostaglandins and leukotrienes) has strong antioxidant properties that can break down the existing inflammation and acidity in the fluids within muscles and joints.
Further studies including the one published in The Journal of Pain shows that daily dosage of ginger is a great remedy for reducing pain and inflammation. According to the researchers at University of Georgia, the volunteers were divided into three study groups and took ginger supplements and exercised daily for 11 days. The volunteers in three groups were each given cooked ginger, placebo and raw ginger. The researchers found out that both raw and heated ginger had the same effectiveness in reduction of muscle pain by 25%.
Other benefits of ginger and researchers suggest that ginger root is superior to over counter drugs like dimenhydrinate:
For thousands of years, Chinese have used ginger for its strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger can effectively reduce pain and swelling and can help those who suffer from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Ginger has also strong anti-bacteria and anti-viral properties and can fight common cold and flu.
According to a study published in Nutrition Journal, ginger root is even more effective than dimenhydrinate (an over-the-counter drug used to prevent nausea and motion sickness) in the treatment of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, without having serious side effects of dimenhydrinate.
Studies have also shown that ginger has strong anti-cancerous properties:
>> Colon cancer: According to a study published in Journal of Biological Chemistry, gingerol (major phenolic compound derived from ginger) has strong anti-cancerous properties and can suppress the growth of colon cancer cells.
>> Breast cancer: A study published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry shows that gingerol inhibits cell adhesion, invasion, motility and activities of human breast cancer cells.
>> Pancreatic Cancer: A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute shows that Gingerol can suppress the growth of pancreatic tumors and can fight cancer cells that are chemotherapy resistant.
You can find easy and affordable ways to add ginger to your diet on a regular basis:
I personally love adding fresh ginger to soups, hot green tea and fresh green smoothies that I make in the mornings. I sometimes even add ginger to my drinking water, with a slice of freshly squeezed organic lime and a table spoon of real organic maple syrup. You can also try taking real ginger supplements or extracts to enjoy all the amazing benefits and medicinal properties of ginger.
Sources:
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/study-ginger-better-than-drugs-for-pain.html
http://foreverconscious.com/ginger-is-better-for-pain-than-drugs
http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/ginger-relieves-muscle-pain-your-workout
